Label It Satan.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a fierce phrase: Battling Satan for my Family. Like blocked computer pop-up screens, things pop up and flash at me. Things that catch me off guard, and and send me reeling to find and click an "x" box. Only, in real life, when it's your family, there isn't an "x" box.

I am starting to train myself to label some things "Satan." Because only he could connive such twists and turns, lies and truths, and split and divide us along the lines as such.

I was asked this weekend how I came through my "anger" stage and what that journey was like. I responded that I still am caught off guard by it and don't understand all of it. As I think about it, I see growth in me here though and know I have really trained myself to let family things bounce off a bit more, and not take all of it to heart, or let it cause havoc on my life and self for days.

But I also note telling the ladies that as they leave, I would pray for their protection. Because when God does a good work, as he did with their presence being here, Satan is always looming on the edge waiting to attack and break down what the Lord has accomplished.

Could it be that maybe I needed to pray this for myself too?

Sure enough, when Monday night rolled around and I split open the mail, a wedding shower invitation for Julie arrived -- with bridal registry cards and all. Anger spurted from me. My arms flailed as I my steps pounded down to take my exacerbating to my roommate. The reasons for my rantings were founded and justified.

But the spark of my anger and the burning of it still this morning, is not. I do not want Satan to have a hold of me like this. Only he would connive sneaking this jolting piece of mail into my pile after having such a blessed weekend. Only he would try to ruin me and set me off as such, and sit back like the Grinch at my twisted reaction.

I'm going to label it Satan. I'm going to see his work as I fight. I'm going to train myself to be aware of his lurking presence and then to arm myself to battle it. From now on, as I battle for my family, I'm going to label it Satan.